New Yorkers with disabilities to be celebrated at NYSID annual meeting

by jmaloni

Submitted

Sat, Sep 14th 2013 02:30 am

Individuals, not-for-profits, businesses and
local governments to be honored for work Sept. 16

New York State Industries for the
Disabled Inc. will hold its annual corporate event on Monday,
Sept. 16, at 5 p.m., at The Saratoga Hilton in Saratoga Springs, during
which job creation for people with disabilities will take center stage.

Individuals employed on preferred source
contracts, not-for-profits, small businesses, state universities and local
governments will all be recognized for their work to create jobs for New
Yorkers with disabilities.

"This year's honorees provide
incredible examples of how much New York state benefits by having a workforce
that is inclusive of persons with disabilities," said Ron Romano, NYSID
president and CEO. "While New Yorkers with disabilities continue to face
discrimination and other barriers in pursuing employment, this year's honorees
have stepped up and provided tremendous leadership to reverse that trend."

In addition, the Marine Corps League
Department of New York will present a plaque to NYSID and its members for their
relief efforts in the aftermath of "Superstorm" Sandy. NYSID contributed funds
on behalf of its members to the Marine Corps League Foundation toward the
purchase of supplies for the victims of Sandy and coordinated the transport of
supplies to Staten Island.

Among those who will present the
plaque to NYSID are Bill McGowan, commandant of the Marine Corps League
Department of New York; Tim Forbes, past commandant of the Marine Corps League
Department of New York; and Bob Becker, past commandant of the National Marine
Corps League and the Marine Corps League Department of New York.

Awards will be presented
to William B. Joslin Outstanding Performance Award co-recipients:

Marc Smith,
employed by The Altamont Program Inc. in Schenectady

Donald Huckins,
employed by The Arc Otsego in Oneonta

The William B. Joslin Outstanding
Performance Award is NYSID's most prestigious people-centered award.

NYSID's annual Joslin Awards Program celebrates excellence
in preferred source employment by New Yorkers with disabilities. In its 10th
year, NYSID's Joslin Awards Program has recognized 475 outstanding performers,
and awarded 11 of those individuals with the final William B. Joslin
Outstanding Performance Award. All outstanding performers receive a certificate
of achievement and cash award, and are featured in an annual yearbook.

Smith is a porter for The Altamont
Program Inc. in Schenectady and works at the Corning Tower in Albany; Huckins
works as a trainee with The Arc Otsego's Vocational Training Center in Oneonta.
They were selected from a group of 59 outstanding performers recognized by
NYSID member agencies in 2013.

"These days I hold my head up high
and eagerly anticipate a future that I thought would never be possible. The
Altamont Program Inc. and NYSID have given me a window into tomorrow
for which I will be forever grateful," Smith said.

"I am proud of being nominated for
the Joslin Award. I really worked for it. I set my goals really high and I am
proud of achieving them," Huckins said.

Awards also will be presented to:

Association
for Vision Rehabilitation and Employment, Inc. (A.V.R.E.) in Binghamton,
Member Agency of the Year

Employee of the Year: The Copy Paper
Team

CASO, Inc.
in New York City, Corporate Partner of the Year

Employee of the Year: Chantal St.
Clair

City
University of New York Smithtown Central School District,
Customer of the Year co-recipients

Established in 1975, NYSID is a
registered 501(c)(3) not-for-profit that creates employment opportunities for
nearly 7,000 New Yorkers with disabilities annually. Its offerings are approved
by the state Office of General Services and include janitorial, document
imaging, industrial laundry, office temps, and other services, as well as a
wide range of products assembled, packaged and/or manufactured by people with
disabilities. NYSID's community rehabilitation member agencies and private
sector business partners are located throughout the state, providing vocational
assistance programs to their respective communities.